Adrenal Fatigue Causes

Adrenal Fatigue: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

Adrenal gland is the triangular shaped endocrine glands located on top of the kidneys.

These glands regulate the body’s response to stress through the synthesis of corticosteroids and catecholamines, including cortisol and adrenaline.

The adrenal glands are not working efficiently can trigger a health condition known as adrenal fatigue (adrenal fatigue).

Due to the dysfunction of the adrenal glands, cortisol levels in the body will decrease.
Cortisol is necessary to cope with stress and fight infection.

Adrenal fatigue has some other name like non-Addison hypoadrenia, hypoadrenalism, sub-clinical hypoadrenia, and neurasthenia.

The adrenal glands are not functioning properly can interfere with blood sugar metabolism resulting in fatigue and weakness.

The Causes

Stress is the most common cause of adrenal fatigue.
Excessive stress, among others, caused by pressure of work, physical activity, change of job, the death of a loved one, marital problems, and physical illness.
Several other factors that contribute to the stress of adrenaline are fear, anger, guilt, depression, anxiety, excessive exercise, physical or mental pressure, lack of sleep, trauma/injury, surgery, exposure to toxins, chronic pain, chronic infections, poor digestion, malabsorption, chronic disease, low blood sugar, and malnutrition.

Stages

In the first stage, the adrenaline secretion occurs higher than usual in response to stress levels are also higher.
The adrenal cortex is stimulated to produce cortisol and other related hormones in excess.
The second stage is known as the adaptation or resistance when stress takes place continuously.
Continued excess hormones produced to increase blood sugar and blood pressure.
At this stage the corticosteroids continued to produced by the adrenal cortex to fight stress.
The third stage is known as fatigue. During this stage, the body’s ability to cope with stress ultimately diminished.
The hormone adrenaline down from too high to very low. At this stage occur adrenal fatigue that triggers a decline in stress tolerance, accompanied by the physical and mental fatigue.

Symptoms

Adrenal fatigue often develops after periods of physical or emotional stress.
Some of the common signs and symptoms of adrenal fatigue are:

– Sleep is not refreshing
– Excessive fatigue
– The desire to eat salty and sweet foods
– Unable to cope with stress
– Stamina is low, slow to recover from physical activity
– Low levels of immune
– Feel most energetic at night
– Difficulty in concentration
– Bad digestion
– Premenstrual syndrome
– Extreme sensitivity towards cold
– Low blood pressure
– Weight gain
– Shaking under the pressure
– High frequency illness like the flu and other respiratory
– The lack of passionate sex
– Pain in the upper back or neck without obvious reasons

Treatment


Treatment for adrenal fatigue include mengasup the proper diet and lifestyle changes.
The diet must contain the amount of protein and complex carbohydrates are sufficient.
Avoid junk food, coffee, or soda. Also avoid processed foods, tobacco, and alcohol.
If necessary do some exercises such as yoga or meditation.
Nutritional supplements are also important to speed up the recovery of the condition.
The use of extracts of adrenal cortisol, vitamin B complex, a substitute for cortisol, DHEA, cordyceps, L-Theanine, licorice, Pantothenic acid, and may be useful for treating pregnenolon adrenal fatigue.